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Manawatu Herald, 31 January 1879, Page 2

We have made careful enquiries regarding the extent of available laud between Foxton and Firzberbert, with a view to estimate the quantity that would be opened up by a railway to Palraers»ou via I'itzherbert. As the result, w« consider far more has been made of ic than is really the case. Starting from Foxton, we may take a direct line eastward, say about six milee, when we would strike the proposed Fitzherbert line of railway. We then would travel towards Fi z« herbert some nine miles, in a N.E. direction, at the foot of the Tararua Unnges, which are utterly unlit for anything but pastoral purposes. Tho laud on the western side of the line would be largely spoilt for settlement by the vast Makurerua Swamp, and of the whole country through which the lino would pass, probably not more than one-third would be available. Coming into the Fitzheibert I 'lock, we continue on in a straight lino some distance further in a N.K. direction, when we take a turn due north into Palmerston "We have not teen able to ascertain the exact quantity of land available on the line south of " Fitzherbert ; but in the Fiizherbert Blrck itself, including a considerable portion of the Makurerua Swamp — that is, measuring ironi the southern boundary ot tho block to a point eone two mjlos north of the railway line — there are less than 15,000 acres of land, good, bad, and indifferent. Nearly the whole this land is already sold, and carries at present a population of 19. A very brief examination of a map will convince the most sceptical of the truth of the above statements, and it will be seen how unfair it would be to shut the whole country from Greatford to Foxton out from communication with Wellington, simply to run a railway through a small block of good land. A good dray road would open Fitzherbert better than tho Palmerston Railway.